Readers dislike gators, jet-setting politicians and me

July 31, 2014|Scott Maxwell, Taking Names

Scott, my husband thought I was nuts at 7 a.m. laughing my you-know-what off. But then he figured out I must be reading your column. ["Florida the scariest state in America? Only if you're a wimp."] It was HILARIOUS! Barbara.

Thanks, Barbara, I try to keep my readers' you-know-whats in mind each and every day.

Scott, how did you write Wednesday's column about all the scary things in our state without mentioning alligators?Pat

Maxwell, you dolt, how could you leave out alligators? They're forever biting people. Rick

Actually, Sam, they rarely bite people … though I'm beginning to think of a few folks I wouldn't mind offering up.

After reading your article today, I'm afraid to leave my house. I'm a 75-year-old widow, and I'm not even going into my backyard. And I was planning on going to the Apopka Perkins. Mrs. K.

Oh, you can still enjoy Perkins. The scariest things there are the 1,490 calories in the Fried Chicken Biscuit Platter. (OK, and maybe some of the tourists who devour those biscuits in their swimsuits if you hit the Perkins near Wet 'N Wild.)

Thanks for today's piece. ["Special elections, punishment needed in redistricting scandal."] I am so tired of the apathy of this state and its voters for allowing this law-breaking to continue. We need to get busy voting out incumbents once and for all. Jodi

Jodi, I've never advocated throw-'em-all-out voting. But I increasingly understand the appeal.

I'm disgusted. I don't even know why I bother on reading your articles anymore. I can always count on them to be slanted and biased and full of crap. Carol.

Carol, you can always count on me!

Dear Scott, thank you for remembering my husband, Thom, and for reminding us all of his legacy. He was a brilliant and fair-minded man who deeply believed in democracy. Debbie Rumberger

Thom was a rarity — a power-broker who got on the inside and couldn't stand what he saw after he got there. He was a smart lawyer and GOP patriarch who knew both parties rigged the system when it came to redistricting. That's why he helped birth the Fair Districts movement — and why current legislators should be ashamed of themselves for trampling on his legacy.

I don't know what difference it makes where these lines are drawn. People are people. And they're going to vote. And whether they vote Democratic or Republican, that's what they're gonna do. And nobody's going to win. Or that's the way they're going to win. That's all there is to it. Mary

Mary, you should know marijuana's not legal yet.

Scott, spot-on column. ["Politicians, lobbyists and free trips — a recipe for trouble."] It's especially egregious that our agriculture commissioner would attend a Big Sugar-sponsored affair and not give a detailed explanation to the press as to why! Brian

More reason to abolish the elected agriculture post — a costly and antiquated political position that serves as little more than a sop to the industries it is supposed to regulate ... something I have advocated long before current commissioner Adam Putnam was even elected. Give the consumer-protection duties to the attorney general, and save taxpayers some money.

So just to understand this right, NONE of the Democrats in the state take these kinds of trips, right, Mr. Maxwell? Richard

Richard, what you need to understand is that Big Sugar — like most moneyed interests — simply follows the power. At the federal level, they ply both parties with money, including lots to Democrats (as I detailed in a column a few months ago). But in Florida, Democrats are so irrelevant, sugar doesn't need to take them across the street, much less to a ranch in Texas. That's why, as the Tampa Bay Times reported, Big Sugar gave $132,000 to state Democrats during the last election cycle — and $2.2 million to Republicans.

Another day, another scandal. I'd love to know if anyone in public office ever does any good.Joan

Sure they do, Joan. I know one guy who just retired after doing decades' worth of good. His name is Jim Moye — deputy chief to Comptroller Martha Haynie. Jim saved taxpayers millions of dollars by standing up to big-spending politicians and shady bond salesmen trying to peddle risky investments. For the full story, visit my blog at orlandosentinel.com/takingnames.